System for vehicle-to-vehicle identification and detection

Abstract

A method for vehicle-to-vehicle identification and detection and a system for the same are revealed. A plurality of radio frequency (RF) communication units with different communication directions is arranged at a vehicle body. Each RF communication unit sends identification information of the vehicle to nearby vehicles in response to communication requests from the nearby vehicles. The vehicle sends communication requests to the nearby vehicles in different communication directions by antennas of the RF communication units using time-sharing polling or simultaneous communication scheme. Thus RF communication between vehicles is achieved for identification and detection of the nearby vehicles. The precise and accurate positioning of the respective vehicle within the area is achieved to support vehicle active safety control or provide data required for autonomous driving for improving driving safety.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle-to-vehicle identification and detection system comprising:
 a plural of radio frequency (RF) communication units each of which having a RF communication module and an antenna electrically connected to the RF communication module; 
 a single-pole multiple-throw (SPMT) switch; and 
 a master communication module; 
 wherein the antennas of the RF communication units are in charge of RF communication between vehicles in different communication directions symmetrical to the center of the vehicle in the plane where the vehicle is located; the antennas of the RF communication units have different communication directions respectively while each of the RF communication unit is able to be switched between an active mode and a passive mode; the RF communication unit in the passive mode receives the communication requests from the nearby vehicles in the preset communication directions by the electrically-connected antenna; the RF communication unit sends a piece of identification information to the nearby vehicles by the electrically-connected antenna in response to the communication requests from the nearby vehicles after receiving the communication request; the master communication module switches the RF communication units to the active mode one after another by the SPMT switch using time-sharing polling or simultaneous communication scheme; the master communication module is electrically connected to the antenna of the RF communication unit in the active mode to send communication requests along the communication direction of the antenna and receive identification information the nearby vehicles transmit in response to the communication requests by the antenna. 
 
     
     
       2. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system includes eight RF communication units; the antennas of the eight RF communication units are respectively in charge of RF communication between the vehicle and the nearby vehicles in eight communication directions symmetrical to the center of the vehicle in the plane the vehicles are located. 
     
     
       3. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the master communication module is a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader; the RF communication module includes a tag integrated circuit (IC) of a RFID tag and a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch; the identification information is stored in the tag IC; the tag IC is electrically connected to the antenna by the SPDT switch when the RF communication unit is in the passive mode; the master communication module is electrically connected to the antenna by the SPDT switch and electrical connection between the tag IC and the antenna is cut off when the RF communication unit is in the active mode. 
     
     
       4. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the identification information at least includes registration information of the vehicle, direction information of the communication direction of the communication request received by the vehicle, and operating parameters of the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the antennas are linearly polarized antennas; the linearly polarized antennas of the two adjacent RF communication unit are polarized in different directions including horizontally polarized and vertically polarized. 
     
     
       6. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the antennas are circularly polarized antennas; the circularly polarized antennas of the two adjacent RF communication unit are polarized in different directions including right-hand circularly polarized and right-hand circularly polarized. 
     
     
       7. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a narrow-beam antenna. 
     
     
       8. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system further includes an information processor arranged at the vehicle; the information processor analyzes RF signals of the identification information the nearby vehicles transmit in response to the communication requests of the vehicle so as to calculate the distance between the vehicle and the nearby vehicles. 
     
     
       9. The system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the information processor determines relative position of the nearby vehicle to the vehicle according to communication direction of one of the antennas in the identification information received or content of the identification information.